The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed that an investigation is underway regarding a runway overrun incident that occurred at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, involving XeJet Airline’s Embraer 145 aircraft with registration number 5N BZZ.
The incident took place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 1:00 pm, while the aircraft was completing a scheduled flight from Abuja to Lagos with 49 passengers and 3 crew members onboard.
According to the NSIB’s director, public affairs and consumer protection, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji the flight departed Abuja at 11:10 a.m, maintaining a cruising altitude of Flight Level 280. After being held for 50 minutes in Lagos, waiting for the weather to clear, it was cleared for landing. The aircraft then landed on Runway 18 Left (18L) but went off the end of the runway to the left of the centerline and stopped on the grass verge approximately 326 metres from the threshold of Runway 36R. The captain subsequently shut down the engines and commanded an evacuation through a controlled disembarkation. Three exit doors were used for the evacuation process, including two over-wing windows and one forward exit door.
Thankfully, there were no reported injuries or fatalities in the incident. However, the aircraft’s nose landing gear and both main landing gear tires were damaged.
NSIB will collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, as well as other relevant institutions and specialists, to gather all necessary information and data concerning the operation of the flight.
“NSIB’s investigation into this incident is ongoing, with a focus on determining the factors that led to the runway overrun. The bureau has already interviewed the captain, senior first officer, and purser, and conducted toxicology tests on the crew to check for any impairing substances. All tests came back negative,” stated director-general of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Captain Alex Badeh Jr..
“The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been retrieved and the data downloaded for further analysis at the bureau’s transport safety lab. NSIB’s investigation of this incident will examine various aspects, including the airworthiness status of the aircraft, operational policies, human factors, weather conditions, health and mental status of the crew, aircraft maintenance records, and any previous incidents involving this aircraft’s landing gear system. Air traffic control data, cockpit voice recordings and flight data recorders will also be downloaded and examined,” he further assured.
In accordance with international aviation safety protocols, a preliminary report containing a summary of basic fact-finding about the incident will be released within 30 days. A final report with safety recommendations will be issued at the conclusion of the investigation.
NSIB aims to identify any safety deficiencies and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The objective of this investigation is to arrive at the cause of the incident and the factors that led to it and to issue safety recommendations to prevent such occurrences in the future.
